Cutter/Draper

Muhlenberg College

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Position Overview: Muhlenberg College Theatre & Dance invites applications to join us as a cutter/draper and serve as a member of a committed team of artists and educators. Reporting directly to the costume shop manager, and as a member of the Production Staff, the successful candidate will drape, pattern, cut, fit, alter and provide associated costume-construction services for academic year productions. The cutter/draper collaborates with faculty, staff, visiting artists and students on production and academic projects, from mid-August through mid-May. Schedule & Benefits: The anticipated schedule for this position is 7 hours per day, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 1 hour unpaid lunch break, from mid-August through mid-May. (40 weeks, 35 hours per week/1,400 hours annualized). This position is eligible for Muhlenberg’s highly competitive benefits package, including but not limited to, 15 days of vacation per year, generous holidays (including 3 days off for Thanksgiving and an extended winter break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day), sick leave, paid parental leave, tuition programs at the undergraduate and graduate level for employees, spouses, and dependent children, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending plans, College-provided short-and long-term disability, life insurance, and retirement. The College & Surrounding Area: Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a private, residential liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. At Muhlenberg, we are committed to a campus community that ensures students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome, respected, valued and included. Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, business, natural sciences and social sciences; pre-professional programs in law, health and theology; and progressive workforce-focused post-baccalaureate certificates and master’s degrees. A diverse city of 125,000 located in Pennsylvania’s scenic Lehigh Valley, Allentown is the third-largest city in the state and is located just 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City. The region, also comprising neighboring Bethlehem, Easton and more, is home to a vibrant arts scene, extensive parks and recreational opportunities, and a rich blend of diverse cuisine. Check out Allentown and Life in the Lehigh Valley | Muhlenberg College to learn more.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum three years’ experience in relevant costume construction and/or MFA/Graduate degree in costume design and/or production or technology.
• Demonstrated experience sewing, pattern making, creation, and alteration of stage costumes.
• Understanding of professional practice in theatre costumes, including accurately estimating labor and time needs for specific design proposals.
• Excellent diplomacy and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working effectively and supporting inclusion within a diverse community (prospective and current students, faculty, staff, subscribers, and visitors, etc.). Diversity, as affirmed in the College’s mission statement, is a fundamental Muhlenberg value. For more information, visit Muhlenberg DEIB.
• Proficiency and experience in maintaining and troubleshooting costume equipment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate initiative to see projects through to completion.
• Willingness to embrace the department’s culture and to be a mentor and teacher to students.
• Demonstrated initiative, patience and ability to prioritize assignments while working in an environment subject to changing conditions.
• Organized and self-motivated, able to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Successful completion of satisfactory background checks, including but not limited to education and national criminal background.

Nice To Haves

• BA or BFA in theatre or a related field preferred.
• Supervisory experience a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the creation of a welcoming, inclusive, supportive educational environment for our diverse student body and other community members.
• Develop patterns and mock ups based on the costume designer’s renderings and research, including any grading etc.
• Oversee cutting and construction of built costumes.
• Take measurements of performers for productions.
• Perform fittings and take notes for the designer.
• Correct patterns and oversee alterations based on fittings and designers’ notes.
• Attend shop staff designers’ presentations and meet with the designer (and faculty mentor, if applicable) as needed.
• Assign, supervise and instruct students on construction and alterations, providing guidance in techniques; provide guidance to staff as appropriate.
• Stitch and alter costumes.
• Attend dress rehearsals, as needed.
• Oversee the preparation of fabrics for builds (washing, pressing, steaming, rolling etc.).
• Assist wardrobe during performance runs with major repairs.
• Attend staff & department meetings.
• Maintain a professional, safe, clean, and organized workspace.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 15 days of vacation per year
• generous holidays (including 3 days off for Thanksgiving and an extended winter break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day)
• sick leave
• paid parental leave
• tuition programs at the undergraduate and graduate level for employees, spouses, and dependent children
• medical, dental and vision coverage
• flexible spending plans
• College-provided short-and long-term disability
• life insurance
• retirement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level